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| aliases | language | created | summary | tags | status | |
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| English | 2025-07-23 | This article discusses how I managed to be highly productive and in a good mood despite being in what seemed like a very difficult situation initially. |
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My experience
Terminology
Terminology: Error No. 3. The brain is the nervous system. Heart activities are things I really want to do. Head activities are mostly logical and something that should be done from a logical perspective (optimal etc).
Starting Situation
A good example is the period from April to December 2022. I had just graduated with my master's degree and was working in a self-taught and relaxed manner. During my bachelor's studies, I learned how important it is to be well-prepared and have a clear work goal. After graduating, however, I decided: "Hey, I've never had a vacation during my studies. I deserve a break with such a good result!" At the time, I was living with my parents because my shared apartment in Gießen dissolved due to Corona. It was planned to do "nothing" for 3-6 months and "recover." My idea of relaxation was gaming because I do "what I want" by playing. This was my Lost Ark time. The game was released in February of that year, and I had already logged around 2,400 hours by the end of 2022. That means I mostly played this game. What did my daily routine look like? Every day, I completed daily quests with 6 characters, all 18 raids (3 per character) with static groups, gathered achievements, developed life skills, and watched YouTube for information about the game. So, I really did exactly what I thought was the optimal leisure activity after my graduation. I wanted the freedom to do what I want without any pressure. It occasionally felt good because I had a certain status as one of the best Paladine. However, this also came with expectations and stress! I didn't notice it much, but it was there. For half a year, I conducted an experiment where I did everything I wanted. Sometimes I ran an extra PC with a Python bot (self-written) that handled daily tasks with multiple characters. Ultimately, I realized the time commitment for this game was a significant problem.
Problem with the Starting Situation
I don't believe it had anything to do with the conventional "dopamine excess" theory. That theory suggests you get bored. Video games are designed to exploit the reward center effectively. This was partially the case with Lost Ark. What's more important is that I played games because I believed it was something "I" wanted to do. The "I" here refers to the part of me that does not want to be productive, that does not want to do what makes sense. In my self-analysis, this part is the "heart." During my studies, I primarily relied on my brain. I was in a sort of "logical mode" with perhaps a bit of heart activity. I performed tasks that were logically good for a long time. I neglected my social contacts (heart) and what I wanted. Thus, I neglected a part of myself. This expressed itself in the desire to take a proper break after my studies and not feel guilty. I needed time for my heart side. However, it should have been correctly formulated as needing time for my heart side.
The Crucial Insight
Only because my head wants to engage in a certain head or heart activity does not mean it is good for me. The impulse to balance is correct, but the activity must be well chosen. Similar to "cute aggression," after a period of prolonged activity on one side (head or heart), the brain seeks balance. As explained, it is logical that I needed a corresponding heart period after a long head period. However, there is a problem! The brain does not care which activity of a certain type (head or heart) is performed! The brain can seek a heart activity such as "gaming" because it previously saw it as a part of my identity. However, maintaining social contacts or meeting new people would be more beneficial for my brain health.
What can be done to become productive again?
Both the head and heart need to be satisfied. Clean more than you dirty to calm your head because everything being tidy and clean is optimal. Find activities that your heart wants to do, such as maintaining social contacts or achieving a pleasant physical sensation through stretching and exercise. It is crucial to consciously perform the activities or assign them to a side. Exercise could also be assigned to the head. However, it is impossible to achieve optimal results physically. Therefore, setting a goal of feeling good can make the activity enjoyable.
Balancing Activities
The balance of activities can fluctuate. However, it is crucial that no activity overshadows all others and makes everything else impossible. A healthy distance from work or similar projects is required. Consider carefully whether it makes sense to engage in a coding hobby project and whether it will ultimately make you happier or conflict with your job.
Final Advice
Find something worthwhile to learn and try to read about it for 1-2 hours in absolute silence. Then, ask yourself if the activity was enjoyable. Usually, my nerd brain is excited about information. I am currently reading a Spring Boot Roadmap and can read small sections every day.